Sat Feb 07 04:20:00 UTC 2026: ### Trump Defends Racist Video Post, Blames Staffer Amid Bipartisan Outrage

The Story:
Former President Donald Trump is facing intense criticism after posting and then deleting a racist video on Truth Social that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes in a jungle. Despite bipartisan outrage, including from close allies, Trump refused to apologize, claiming he only saw the beginning of the video which contained debunked claims about voter fraud. He blamed a staffer for not reviewing the entire video before posting it. The White House initially attributed the post to a staffer’s error, a claim met with skepticism.

Key Points:

  • The video, posted late Thursday night, remained online for nearly 12 hours before being removed.
  • The video featured the Obamas depicted as apes, accompanied by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, reinforcing a racist trope.
  • Trump claimed he only watched the beginning of the video, which focused on voter fraud claims, and then passed it to a staffer.
  • He stated, “I didn’t make a mistake,” refusing to apologize, but later condemned the racist portion of the clip.
  • Republican Senator Tim Scott called the post racist and urged Trump to remove it, which he did after speaking to Scott.
  • The White House initially dismissed the outrage as “fake outrage” before changing its story to blame a staffer.
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Trump an “unhinged bottom feeder” in response to the video.
  • Former Vice President Kamala Harris dismissed the White House’s explanation as a cover-up.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incident highlights Trump’s continued use of social media to promote controversial and, in this case, racist content.
  • The White House’s initial response indicates a pattern of minimizing or denying responsibility for problematic posts before eventually shifting blame.
  • The incident demonstrates a growing divide within the Republican party, with some members openly criticizing Trump, while others remain silent.
  • This event reinforces long held views about Trump’s racism and the willingness of some supporters to defend his actions.
  • The controversy underscores the potential for social media posts by political figures to incite outrage and deepen existing divisions.

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